North Carolina

Things to do in North Carolina

Because the state is so diverse, it’s important to decide what type of experience you want to have before planning what to do in North Carolina.

Beach lovers craving relaxation should head to the Outer Banks, a two-hundred-mile-long strip of barrier islands. Captured in movies like “Prince of Tides” and “Cape Fear”, its picturesque beauty makes the region a not-to-be-missed spot when planning what to do in North Carolina. Hatteras Island, one of these barrier islands, divides the Atlantic Ocean and the Pamlico Sound. With a population of just over four thousand, it is a perfect retreat from the mainland. The island has seven quaint villages, seven popular lighthouses worth exploring, and stunning beaches you can walk or just relax on.
If a mountain getaway full of waterfalls and gorgeous hikes is on your list of things to do in North Carolina, head to the Western side of the state.

The Great Smoky Mountains and Blue Ridge Parkway are two of the most-visited attractions in America, and you’ll find endless opportunities to hike, mountain climb, and whitewater raft from your mountain cabin.

History buffs will also find plenty of things to do in North Carolina. Fort Macon is just one of the historic sites along the North Carolina Civil War Trail, while the International Civil Rights Museum offers a poignant look at another major era in American history. You could also go to where flight began at the Wright Brothers National Memorial in Kitty Hawk. Or re-trace Blackbeard’s journey along the coast and view treasures from his sunken ship at the North Carolina Maritime Museum in Beaufort.

Bar in a renovated bank. This lively bar occupies a former Wells Fargo bank. The owners kept the bulletproof teller windows and the main vault, where bartenders serve beer and Jagermeister shots on Saturday nights.